“I’ll get it,” Angel announced, hopping down from my bed when the doorbell rang. Our parents had gone out to do a little Black Friday shopping, which turned into an all-day event. So, unfortunately for Angel, she’d be home alone for a few hours until they made it back.
I could hear her talking to AJ while I grabbed my purse off the knob of my closet door. Stopping in the mirror one last time, I smiled at myself, thinking he’d like the gray, off-the-shoulder sweater and black skinny-jeans that I chose. Zipping my boots before heading down, I smiled at AJ when I saw him standing at my front door holding a dozen pink roses.
“Happy birthday, again,” he whispered when we embraced.
I was beaming from ear to ear. “And thank you, again.” My eyes wandered over the flowers and pretty crystal vase.
“I’ll take these to the kitchen,” Angel offered.
I mouthed a thank you and she waved me off with a smile before disappearing around the corner.
“Ready?” AJ asked.
Grabbing my coat, I followed him out to the car where he held the door open while I climbed in. Once he joined me, I asked what he had planned.
A slow smile crossed his face. “You’ll see when we get there,” was all he would say.
“Nah, last time you said that we ended up with tattoos and, quite frankly, I don’t think my mom is ready for anything like that anytime soon.”
He laughed. “No tattoos. Promise.”
I settled into my seat and interlaced my fingers with his. We hopped on the freeway and I decided to stop trying to figure out where he was taking me. He seemed excited which left me curious about what we’d be doing tonight.
Half an hour had passed and I had to ask again.
“Can’t you give me just a little hint?”
AJ shook his head. “Nope. We’ll be there in less than five minutes. Just be patient.”
With a sigh and an smile, I sat back and waited like he asked me to. Not even two minutes later, we pulled into the parking lot of a large domed building. Two cars sat parked at the very back of the lot, but I didn’t pay them any attention. I was too busy trying to figure out why AJ had just brought me to the planetarium to celebrate my birthday.
“Ummm…this is….interesting, “I said, trying to maintain the same enthusiasm that I had when he first picked me up.
He knew I was faking, but smiled anyway. “Just stop trying to figure it all out and come on.”
I undid my seatbelt and waited for him to come around to open my door. When I took his hand, I shook my head at him being all incognito. We approached the door and my stride slowed.
“I’m pretty sure this place is closed.” All of the lights were out, there weren’t many cars, and it was nearly eight o’clock.
“It is,” AJ said, confirming my suspicions.
I shot him a questioning look that only made him smile harder.
“Come on.” He walked me the last few feet to the door, and to my surprise, it wasn’t locked. We stepped inside the nearly pitch-black lobby and I looked around. The gift shop to the right was dark as was the directory that stood in the middle of the room. The only light we had was that of the red exit signs and the signs over the bathroom doors.
“I don’t think we’re supposed to be here,” I reiterated.
AJ laughed. “It’s fine. Trust me.”
With a sigh, I followed behind him and was surprised to hear the sound of faint music playing as we drew nearer to the doors of the planetarium. AJ met my gaze just as I looked his way.
“What’d you do?” I asked.
Instead of answering yet another one of my questions, he pulled the door open and took my breath away like he always manages to do. The dome of the planetarium was lit up like the night sky as the stars gently swirled around the ceiling in slow motion. My eyes fell to the middle of the room near the control center to where they stopped on a blanket and candles already set up. AJ held his arm out for me to take. My heart sped up as I let him lead me inside.
“How’d you do all this?” I asked.
He shrugged nonchalantly and laughed. “I know a guy.”
“Yeah, but it must’ve cost –“